Garrapata State Park
The Park is currently OPEN.
Please check the hours of operation.Park Facilities
Monterey Bay Living Shorelines Survey
We need your feedback! Please take the Monterey Bay Living Shorelines Program (MBLSP) survey.
The MBLSP seeks to establish a program that will enhance the quality of the Monterey Bay coastline and foster resilience against the impacts of climate change such as sea level rise, erosion, and coastal storms. The survey seeks to better understand public values as they relate to coastal State Parks lands from Año Nuevo Point to Garrapata Creek.
To learn more about the MBLSP, visit www.mblsp.org.
Big Sur State Parks Open
Update (March 5, 2025)
Expect delays when driving to Big Sur from Monterey/Carmel due to work at the Rocky Creek Slip out area. There is a one lane section of highway here, with daytime flaggers and a 24/7 traffic light. There will be an overnight closure of Highway 1 at Rocky Creek beginning at 10:00 p.m. Friday, March 7th, through 6:00 a.m. Saturday, March 8th.
NOTE: Highway 1 is CLOSED to all traffic including vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists 5 miles south of Julia Pfeiffer Burns due to the landslide "Regents Slide." Please see the Highway 1 closure info and map below. There is currently no anticipated date for the full opening of Highway 1 at Regent's Slide.
Highway 1 remains closed between Esalen Institute and Lucia.
Visitors can now access Limekiln State Park for Day Use from the Cambria/San Simeon area. Limekiln State park is open for limited day use. Please visit the website link on the right side of our page for more information.
Camping reservations can be made at www.reservecalifornia.com up to 6 months in advance.
Always check area weather forecasts and road updates before visiting. NOAA Weather- Big Sur
For more information about USFS properties and current closures, please visit USFS - Los Padres National Forest - Big Sur
For current highway closures and conditions please visit CalTrans - Road Conditions Map
Follow us on social media @BigSurStateParks for photos and information.
ABOUT GARRAPATA STATE PARK
Garrapata State Park has two miles of beach front, with coastal hiking and a 50-foot climb to a beautiful view of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, a federal marine protected area. The park offers diverse coastal vegetation with trails running from ocean beaches into dense redwood groves. The park also features outstanding coastal headlands at Soberanes Point. Sea lions, harbor seals and sea otters frequent the coastal waters and California gray whales pass close by during their yearly migration.
Location-Directions
The park is located on Highway 1, 6.7 miles south of Rio Road in Carmel (18 miles north of Big Sur).
Seasons/Climate/Recommended Clothing
The weather can be changeable. Layered clothing is advised.
Due to the high volume of visitors to the Big Sur area, please use extreme caution when parking and when accessing trails on either side of Hwy 1.
SOBERANES CANYON TRAIL and ROCKY RIDGE TRAIL
Located on the East side of Highway 1, the Soberanes Canyon Trail is currently open. The Rocky Ridge Trail is CLOSED due to hazardous conditions.
The Soberanes Trail is open exclusively from the main, gated trailhead on the east side of Highway 1, across from Gate 8 of the Garrapata Coastal Trail. The hike is along the 1.25 mile length of the trail to the back of the canyon. Plan on an out and back hike as the Rocky Ridge portion of the trail is closed due to hazardous conditions.
Due to the high volume of visitors to the Big Sur area, please use extreme caution when parking and when accessing trails on either side of Hwy 1.
DOGS
There is limited access for dogs on leash at the Garrapata State Park beach area:
Dogs ON LEASH are ONLY allowed on the beach at Gate 19 (south end of park) and on the trails leading to it.
Dogs are NOT allowed in all other areas, including across Hwy 1 in the Soberanes Canyon Trail area.
Thank you for partnering with CA State Parks to protect our habitat areas' wildlife by adhering to dogs on leash regulations!
Marine Protected Area Coloring Book - Area Marina Protegida - Libro Para Colorear
Embark on a journey of discovery about Marine protection in a fun and easy way!!
The Marine Protected Areas Coloring Book - Area Marina Protegida - Libro Para Colorear - helps students of all ages learn about the rich diversity of plant and animal life found in California's Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). The book includes three new 3D augmented reality coloring pages that will allow students to interact with their colorings using a smartphone or tablet while learning about marine life and California's marine protected areas.
Download the new marine protected area (MPA) coloring book along with the California Coastal Explorer Guide at: https://www.mpacollaborative.org/kids/
